I belong to several art organizations here in Rochester where I have met many wonderful artists who work in all kinds of mediums. I was recently approached by another member artist and friend who decided that pastels were just not working out for her. She does amazingly tight colored pencil drawings which are much more controllable for her. As a result, she decided to sell her collection of pastel sticks and paper. Two other pastel artists and I met with her and purchased her stuff at a very reasonable price. Her pastels and paper were high quality Schminckes and Rembrandts. I really appreciated her contacting me, as I am sure I will use them and somehow, I can never have enough pastel colors!
The moral of the story: Pastels, unlike some mediums I have tried, are usable no matter how old they are. If you know about pastel prices and if you are looking to build your general color selection, you can find some real deals out there on some used sets. Once you have the chance to work with what you currently have, you can go to an art supply store and purchase the specific colors which you may decide that you need to fill in the holes in your collection.
Watch out, though! Getting just the "right" pastel color can be addicting. After all, I don't think any manufacturer has yet developed just the right shade of "winter marsh grass on a really sunny early winter morning on Lake Ontario" or the allusive "purply-bluish-gray with a little yellow on the underneath of that cloud in late October just before it gets really cold" color. Somehow, I always find myself having to make due with ochres, blues, violets and grays. I know that every day and every season brings changes in the scenery and to the colors out there. My palette can never keep up. Nevertheless, I keep trying to fill in the colors I am missing! It's a losing battle, I know. But it's still fun trying.
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